Stop repossession…know your rights!

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The big news announced recently is that one million homeowners with interest-only mortgages have made no arrangements for paying off their debt − this means nearly one in three people with such loans could see their home repossessed at the end of the term.

An interest-only mortgage gives the borrower lower monthly payments on their home loan as they only pay the interest each month. However it means that the amount owed to the lender at the end of the mortgage term remains the same, as the homeowner is not actually paying back any debt. Before rules were tightened in 2013, millions took advantage of these mortgages. Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said that it was a positive step that rules around interest-only mortgages had changed, but that many people had been forced into a "financial black hole". [ITV News] The first step if you’re in this situation is to seek independent advice and look to come up with a strategy to repay your debt. What happens if there’s nothing you can do and you’re facing repossession? Although it will feel like it, it’s not the end of the world when you fall into mortgage arrears. There is a way out – first you look to renegotiate with your lender. If that fails you sell your house and use the equity to pay off your lender. Here’s a breakdown of a repossession scenario and what you need to know…

Your legal rights

So your mortgage lender has written to you asking you to pay your mortgage arrears or to arrange to pay the arrears over a certain time period. Make sure you respond to this letter. If you don’t respond to this letter, or they’re not happy with your response they’ll write to you again warning you that you risk being taken to court − a Notice of Intended Prosecution. We’ll say it again, it is important you don’t ignore these letters. At this stage you’re likely to be able to come to an agreement with your lender – either to spread the cost of the arrears, or if you cannot afford to do this, give you more time to sell your house for a realistic price. Before they can legally repossess your house your lender must follow certain rules – see our infographic for more details.

The Court summons

If your lender has made an application for possession, the court will write to you with the basic details of the claim and a date when the case will be heard in court. The letter will include a blank defence form. We may sound like a broken record, it’s important that you complete and return this form. If you’re in the process of selling your home to repay your mortgage, advise the courts of this – they may delay the court hearing. Near the time of the repossession hearing you’ll receive an ‘Affidavit’ – a legal document which contains all the details of the claim, the outstanding balance, payment details, interest rates and any terms and conditions. For more information visit the HMCS website

The Court hearing

Present at the repossession hearing will be the judge, the lenders solicitor and you. The judge will listen to the evidence from the solicitor and you before making any decisions. You’ll be given the chance to pay back the arrears or suggest an alternative way to repay your mortgage – for example selling you house quickly. The court views repossession as a last resort.

The repossession

If your home is to be repossessed, the court order will set a date for you to leave. If you don’t leave by then, your lender will apply to the court for a bailiff’s warrant. The bailiffs will write to tell you when the eviction is to take place, and when they come, they can physically remove you from your home − there’s no negotiating with bailiffs. If you're finding yourself in financial difficulty, selling your house could be a solution.

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